Dana White revealed the story of how they organized an additional fight for the White House card literally within one hour during UFC 327. White asked Derrick Lewis if he wanted to fight at the White House event, and Lewis immediately agreed. They planned to discuss matchmaking the following week, but during the Hockit fight, Joe Rogan asked on the broadcast if there was room on the White House card. White immediately grabbed Mick Maynard and sent him to talk to Josh Hockit, who was being loaded into an ambulance at that moment. Despite his condition, Hockit agreed to take the fight.
Dana White revealed during UFC 327 how he put together an additional bout for the upcoming UFC White House card in the span of roughly sixty minutes, a story that unfolded live during the event itself.
The first piece came together quickly. White approached heavyweight Derrick Lewis and asked whether he wanted to compete on the White House card. Lewis, known as The Black Beast, agreed on the spot. The plan at that point was simply to sort out an opponent the following week during normal matchmaking discussions.
Then, mid-broadcast, Joe Rogan asked on the air whether there was still room on the White House card. White took that as a cue, grabbed matchmaker Mick Maynard, and sent him directly to speak with Josh Hockit — who had just competed and was at that moment being loaded into an ambulance. Despite that circumstance, Hockit agreed to take the fight.
Lewis enters the booking as the No. 8-ranked heavyweight in the UFC. The 41-year-old American trains out of Main Street Boxing and Muay Thai and carries a professional record of 29-14. Standing six feet three inches tall with a reach of 79 inches, Lewis has built one of the most decorated knockout résumés in heavyweight history, averaging 2.46 significant strikes landed per minute at 49 percent accuracy over his career.
Why it matters
- The White House card on June 14, 2026 is shaping up as a high-profile event, and adding Lewis keeps a ranked heavyweight in the mix.
- Lewis at No. 8 in the division means the result will carry real rankings implications depending on Hockit's standing.
- The compressed timeline of the booking — from Rogan's on-air question to Hockit agreeing from an ambulance — underlines the unconventional nature of how this card is being assembled.
Sunday, June 14, 2026
